Page 103 of Just a Footnote

“Well, good luck,” Aiden says and he finds he means it. “Hope you end up where you want to end up. Dating anyone exciting?”

Matty shakes his head. “No. Not right now. I don’t want to end up like all of you anyway. Tied down in your twenties.”

“What a mood.”

Matty laughs at him before turning back to the ice.

Murmurs of people talking fills the box, even as the gamestarts. Aiden can’t seem to choose where to keep his eyes. His brain seems to make the choice for him by focusing on Liam’s body going back and forth on the ice. Something about the moment is so familiar, yet new at the same time. He’s been here before, watched his brother and Liam on the ice. But he’s never watched them compete against each other. Certainly not at this type of level.

Liam goes for a shot, but Archer deftly blocks it. He’d expected to feel some type of joy when that happened, not a sense of loss. He doesn’t want Liam to win because he doesn’t want Liam to come out.

At least, that’s what he thought.

He’s spent so long worrying about the idea of it, that maybe he hasn’t realized he’s let some of that go over the past six months. Now that he has Liam, officially has him, maybe there’s not as much to worry about. If Liam isn’t worried about it, then why should he be? He absentmindedly rubs at his chest at the realization. All of it is a little too late now. He told Archer to shut Liam out and honestly, Archer would’ve tried to do that even without Aiden asking it of him.

His knee starts to bounce as the game goes on. He digs a lollipop out of his pants pocket, unwraps it, and sticks it in his mouth. Rolling it around so it makes a clicking sound on his teeth, he watches the game go on.

“Changed your mind, have you?” Miles asks snidely.

“Shut up,” Aiden replies around the lollipop in his mouth.

All he gets from Miles is a chuckle back. Sweat breaks out across Aiden’s neck as the game remains 0-0. The lollipop doesn’t help like it normally does. He suddenly feels a little guilty for wishing that Liam would lose the biggest game of his career so far. But maybe he can change course now. He sends a silent apology to Archer, before focusing his energy on Liam. Just as he does so, Liam takes off up the ice, flanked by his twowingers. A second later the lamp lights up showing that Liam scored against Archer. And the rest of the game goes just like that. It’s like once Aiden shifted his focus, somehow Liam felt it.

By the time the lamp lights up showing Liam’s scored a hat trick for the game, Aiden feels a sense of pride he’s never felt before. Not even when Archer has a shut out. Maybe because for the first time in his life, he really wants someone to win. Wants Liam to win. Because if Liam wins this game, then he’ll kind of win too.

The buzzer goes off and the stadium roars, everyone in the box jumps up, including Aiden as Seattle wins. Suddenly, he’s hugging Miles without even realizing it. They pull away, breathless and happy for their boyfriends, despite Archer’s loss it’s a big deal to even make it to the final game, and in tandem they turn back to the ice. Before the celebration can start, Aiden watches as Liam skates towards the goal where Archer stands frozen. They both take their helmets off, smile at one another, before exchanging a long hug. A second later, Archer pushes Liam away to join the throng of his celebrating teammates.

“You better head down there,” Miles says quietly with a hopeful smile. Aiden turns to him, but doesn’t know what to say. “Go on dude, celebrate with your man.”

Aiden rushes out of the box, leaving everyone behind, hustling his way down to the ice. The journey takes him a torturous five minutes. His heart thumps against his ribcage the entire journey down to the ice. No fear, no anxiety, just an odd form of relief overwhelms him. Suddenly he’s not scared about coming out, he’s not scared about hurting Liam’s career, he just wants to kiss the love of his life on the ice after the biggest win of his career. He has to flash his badge way too many times for being Archer’s doppelganger, but he reminds himself not everyone here knows him.

He bursts through the arena, staggering towards the ice. Hesomehow ends up on New York's side of the ice, so of course, he runs into Archer first. Their eyes meet and Archer shrugs in defeat.

“I’m glad I never had to play against him in college. He makes me look like shit.” Archer grabs Aiden over the barrier to hug him tight. The noise echoes around him, but Aiden blocks it out as he holds his brother close.

“Sorry. You did your best.”

“I did.” Archer pulls away with a rough slap to Aiden’s back. “Now get out there and celebrate with your guy.”

Other families are gathering on the ice now, whooping and hollering to celebrate their loved ones' win. Aiden allows himself a small moment to breathe before pushing himself over the barrier. Once his feet hit the ice, he slides a little, but Archer steadies him with a firm hand on his shoulder. As if sensing his presence, Liam’s head peeks through the crowd of his teammates. Liam’s excited gaze lands squarely on Aiden. He skates towards them with a broad grin, the biggest grin Aiden’s ever seen on Liam’s perfect face.

“So?” Liam asks once he’s close enough to take Aiden’s hand.

“You won,” Aiden says proudly.

Liam smirks at Aiden, then his eyes flit over to Archer in apology. “I did. Sorry, Arch.”

Archer waves him off, climbing off the ice to join his heartbroken teammates. His hand is warm in Liam’s since he took his gloves off. Somehow, Liam’s smile grows even broader. Liam carefully assists Aiden out onto the center ice with the other families. Everything goes on around them, but Aiden can only focus on Liam. Still on the outside group of other families and Liam’s teammates, Aiden turns into Liam’s body.

“Well, aren’t you going to kiss me?” Aiden asks, voice carrying a noticeable tremble.

Liam’s eyes sparkle, his perfect smile grows even larger. Aiden’s wild heart skips a few beats, because he puts that smile there.Hemade Liam that happy. A few seconds pass while they stare at each other, taking in the gravity of the situation. Liam’s hands lift to tenderly cup his cheeks, his fingers are cold when they touch Aiden’s flushing skin. But he abandons all thought when Liam’s mouth crashes down on him. The kiss is tender and soft, his absolute favorite kind of Liam kiss. He melts into it, melts against Liam’s strong body, letting himself be kissed in front of an arena full of over-excited fans. Nothing matters as much as this moment. Even with the crowd around them, it’s only between them.

Pulling away slowly, Liam places a tender kiss to the corner of Aiden’s mouth. “I love you, baby.”

Aiden huffs out a laugh. “I love you too. Now, hurry up and celebrate with your team. You promised to fuck me in your jersey later. I’m still counting on it.”

Liam groans as if in pain. “That’s my real prize.”

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